Local writer accepts divine challenge

By Cynthia Hall For Hometown News
Apr 6, 2023

“My mother once told me I was editing cereal boxes when I was four years old.”

Folks … sometimes a calling will present itself early on and such is the case for Mary Brotherton, a local author/editor. But that doesn’t mean the call is answered immediately with a resounding YES! Usually, and especially for female writers who choose to raise a family first, authors tend to put the professional pen to paper later in life.

Ms. Brotherton’s meandering pathway toward authorship will sound familiar to many creative artists. The “starving artist” calamity provides enough justification to place an aptitude for art, music, or literature on the back burner. Artists of all types tend to pursue their passion as a hobby and the notion of professional creative pursuits remains in the realm of fantasy. But life then turns a corner this way, bends that way and, with nothing but sheer faith, an artist takes a leap and lets the chips fall where they may.

Ms. Brotherton hails from rural South Carolina, where she married and started a family. She found her way to Brevard County in 2002, moving to West Melbourne with her “best husband,” Curtis, whom she met in Atlanta a year after divorcing her first husband. Along the way, her professional career expanded to include many hats. As a stay-at-home mom, she provided daycare for working mothers; in social services, she trained persons with developmental (dis)abilities.

She’s worked as a substitute teacher and school bus driver, which ultimately led her to a trainer position at an adult day program. Atlanta saw a lot of temp work, leading to a second career as an office administrator for a public relations firm. Ms. Brotherton learned a great deal about corporate life and livin’ in “the big city,” which was quite a change for the born-and-bred country girl.

After moving to Florida, she temped once more. Her husband, in turn, built a computer gaming center business for youngsters and young adults. They offered summer camps, tutoring and socialization opportunities long before the days of live-streaming and TikTok. But the 2004 hurricanes and “fine print” insurance policy closed their doors for good. However, ever the optimist, Ms. Brotherton was soon hired as managing editor of Senior Life and Viera Voice.

All through this, her poems, sketching, doodling and writing continued, beginning as a young child having personal experiences with angels. “I recall my mother telling me of incidents when she knew I was talking and playing with angels,” Ms. Brotherton said. Over the years, she and her sons have encountered near-death experiences unharmed, “I know angels and other spirits are near us,” she implored, having received messages and visions throughout her life.

Ms. Brotherton decided to journal these incidents and file them away, thinking “one day,” she’ll write a book filled with stories of these first-hand encounters. After more than 40 years of compilation, a friend challenged her resolve, “You’re just scared,” she told her. Meeting that challenge head-on, “Go With Angels” was finally published in 2022.

Mary BrothertonPhoto courtesy Mary Brotherton

No matter your belief in angels or not, Ms. Brotherton’s stories are ones of hope and inspiration, each encompassing a parable or lesson that serves to offer compassion and empathy where, perhaps, there was none. One devotee confessed how “Go With Angels” helped him regain lost faith, not necessarily in a higher power or angels, but in himself. Another reader so thoroughly enjoyed the stories, she immediately bought 10 copies to offer as gifts for family and friends.

Be it fear, a lack of confidence, a lack of time or a combination of all three, it may have taken Ms. Brotherton decades to publish her first book, but that is not the case with the stories waiting in the wings. By contrast, her second book, “My Angel Book,” was completed in 90 days. It’s also about heavenly spirits, but geared toward children and is due this spring.

And there’s more where that came from.

“I write memoirs, poetry, fiction, non-fiction and children’s books,” she said. “I have close to 20 books in various stages of completion, including children’s books, two novels, and a gift book for those grieving with loss.”

There’s clearly no room for writer’s block in her life! When stuck for the right words, she merely reminds herself that “not all writing happens on a keyboard.” Instead, she’ll write longhand, paint or drive to the beach (any beach) and sit, doing absolutely nothing. It’s usually about then the flow of creativity finds its way to her again. “I’m a huge fan of stream of consciousness writing,” she said.

When not at work creating her stories, Ms. Brotherton loves to paint with acrylics, dance to loud EDM or listen to binaural beats at a super low volume. Reading is always on the table and is another great way to awaken the muse. Although she also believes the best inspiration sometimes comes from simply existing and not doing anything at all.

Once a member of various writers’ committees and groups, after a while, she found the multitude of meetings a bit overwhelming. Although she misses some of her writer friends from that time in her life, nowadays Ms. Brotherton focuses on freelance editing and her work, which includes her duties as the founding president of the nonprofit, bUneke, the editor-in-chief of the award-winning bUneke Magazine and the producer of bUneke Radio.

Her advice to new authors? “Read, write, revise, repeat! Ask questions and remain curious; never stop writing because your stories deserve to be written and read.”

For more information, visit allauthor.com/author/angelauthor/, buneke.org/ or buneke.org/magazine/.